Do you recall my promise to my disciples that I would go and prepare a place for them? This is one of my most widely known promises. Do you think it refers only to your eternal home in glory? It means that, but more besides. Do you understand that I prepare a place for you now? I know that you need provision here and now in addition to later. In fact, it is normal for you to need a series of places in progression before you arrive at the eternal one. If you feel restless it may be that I am preparing a new place for you and you need to be ready to transition to the new one. When this happens release the old one graciously even though I gave it to you.

You see people age and decline late in life. Do you ever wonder how this could be a part of my plan? Some people are diligent in doing their inner work of their own initiative; responding to my leading them to a transformed life. For those who choose not to respond voluntarily, these issues become unavoidable at this stage of life. Dependency and vulnerability produce humility. The loss of attractiveness and ability that are so highly prized in your superficial culture give the opportunity to ponder things that really matter. Even when your career is over there is still much to be transformed in your life. Can you see how even this is a part of my perfect plan?

Speaking of my own generation I said that they were like children playing in a marketplace. We piped and you wouldn’t dance, we played a dirge and you wouldn’t mourn. I celebrated too much for my critics, but the same people thought John the Baptist was too austere. Have you noticed that some people are impossible to please? They can find fault with everything. If you are disposed to dislike something or someone, you can always find a way. But this is unrighteous judgment.

Would you rather operate in an economy of abundance or one of scarcity? I have infinite resources and offer you abundance, but you live in a world that operates on scarcity. The consumer economy you live in tries to persuade you that you need what it has to offer, and that your life will be fulfilled if you have enough, but in this system there is never enough. If you can disengage from this you can learn contentment with the fulfillment of your true needs, rather than trying to satisfy them with things that cannot. This transition to an economy of abundance has the added benefit of giving you a perspective and impulse to generosity.